One of the great things about living here in Dickinson, TX, is that the winters here don’t get very cold. However, they do get cold enough that you need a reliable heating system in your home. Unlike in colder regions, though, operating costs aren’t the main deciding factor for homeowners buying heating systems here. Instead, factors like upfront cost and system longevity are far more important. That reality makes electric furnaces one of the most popular heating options for homes here. But what if your home currently has a gas furnace? Is switching to an electric furnace a smart move? Here’s everything you need to know to make that choice.
How Electric Furnaces Work
If you’ve never owned an electric furnace, you may not know exactly how they work. They don’t rely on combustion to generate heat. Instead, they use the concept of electrical resistance to do the job. In this way, electric furnaces are somewhat like the hairdryer you likely use after every shower. Inside an electric furnace, there are a series of metal heating elements. Typically, the heating elements contain a mixture of chromium and nickel. Those metals have some specific properties that make them perfect for generating heat.
One useful property of chromium and nickel alloys is that they can withstand tremendous heat without degrading. Most such alloys can withstand temperatures as high as 2,282 degrees Fahrenheit without difficulty. Another is that they’re not great electrical conductors, which allows them to readily convert electricity into heat.
The heating process begins when your thermostat calls for heat. Then, your electric furnace turns on its heating elements one by one. This prevents the furnace from drawing too much electricity and tripping its circuit breaker. Since the heating elements don’t conduct electricity well, they resist the flow of current passing through them. At the atomic level, this means the electrons of the current collide with the atoms that make up the alloy. Those collisions create heat, which the furnace uses to warm your home’s air.
The Advantages of Electric Furnaces
Electric furnaces have a variety of advantages over gas furnaces. In some cases, those advantages could make replacing your gas furnace with an electric one desirable. Here are the most important advantages.
Upfront Cost
Electric furnaces are much simpler mechanically than gas furnaces. This makes them cheaper to purchase and install. On average, a new electric furnace costs about $4,000, many coming in well below that. By contrast, the average gas furnace costs about $7,000. That alone may make switching to an electric furnace worth it to you.
Longevity
On average, an electric furnace will last for between 20 and 30 years with proper maintenance. A comparable gas furnace might last up to 20 years, but many need replacement long before then. As a result, an electric furnace further extends its cost advantages by remaining in operation longer. So, if you want to delay your next heating system replacement for as long as possible, buy an electric furnace.
Simplified Maintenance
Electric furnaces also require less maintenance than gas furnaces. Ordinarily, an electric furnace requires an inspection and a cleaning each year. However, they don’t suffer as much wear and tear as gas furnaces do. As a result, the parts of an electric furnace need less direct maintenance attention. They also have a lower failure rate. That can help keep the lifetime repair costs for an electric furnace low, as well.
High Efficiency
Electric furnaces also boast higher energy efficiency than gas furnaces. In fact, all electric furnaces operate at a 100% efficiency rate. That means all of the electricity used by an electric furnace becomes usable heat for your home. Gas furnaces, by contrast, have an average efficiency of just 80%. And even the most efficient gas furnaces only reach about 98.2% efficiency. However, you’ll pay thousands of dollars more for one of those furnaces.
Improved Safety
Electric furnaces are also safer to operate than gas furnaces. This is because they don’t rely on combustion to produce heat. Gas furnaces produce a variety of gaseous emissions as a result of the combustion process. These include nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane. Not only are those emissions harmful to the planet, but they can be deadly if they leak into your home.
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Disadvantages of Electric Furnaces
Electric furnaces do have some notable disadvantages that you should weigh before switching to one. Here’s what they are.
Higher Operating Costs
Even with their superior efficiency, electric furnaces cost more to heat your home than gas furnaces. This comes down to the difference in price between electricity and natural gas. It can result in electric furnaces costing as much as double what a comparable gas furnace costs to run. Plus, electricity prices tend to fluctuate more than natural gas prices do. As a result, the costs of running your electric furnace could change substantially from year t
Increased Household Electrical Demand
Most electric furnaces require a dedicated 220-volt circuit and can pull between 60 and 80 amps while operating. That means your home might require upgrades to install one. In some cases, you’ll need an electrical service upgrade to accommodate the additional amperage. And you might need a new electrical panel to support the necessary circuit breaker. Those changes can drastically increase installation costs, eating into the upfront savings you thought you’d realize.
Increased Environmental Impact
Although it may seem counterintuitive, an electric furnace has a bigger negative environmental impact than a natural gas furnace. The reason why is simple. When you operate a gas furnace, the combustion process generates greenhouse gases. However, using an electric furnace doesn’t eliminate those emissions. It simply moves them elsewhere and even makes them worse. This is because our state’s electrical grid relies on natural gas and coal-fired power plants to a large degree. At last count, 42.6% of our electricity came from natural gas and 16.6% from coal. Plus, coal power plants emit roughly 50% more CO2 than gas-fired plants. In total, this makes the environmental impact of an electric furnace far larger than a gas furnace’s.
Local Gas and Electric Furnace Experts
Whether you ultimately decide on a gas or an electric furnace for your Dickinson home, Mackey Services can help. We’ve served local homeowners since 1992 and have a reputation for quality work at fair prices. We offer complete HVAC installation, repair, and maintenance services. We even offer commercial HVAC services, smart thermostats, and indoor air quality services. Plus, we offer electrical services and landscaping. We’re also Better Business Bureau accredited with an A+ rating. And we have a long list of five-star reviews from satisfied local homeowners just like you! Customer satisfaction is our top priority on every project we handle.
If you need a new furnace installed in your Dickinson home, call Mackey Services and leave the rest to us.